FOR THE GIRLS

This picture is from about 1986, my sister, Nikki, and I got to hold a baby tiger and cheetah at the a mall when we were just little girls. I can remember this like it was yesterday, we were so scared at first, but they were so soft and cute! Nikki has been my best friend since we were little girls. We were partners in crime in our younger years and even when we were in high school, throwing eggs, and I'll leave it at that... I love my sisters so much, they are my very best friends!

I just wanted to post about how grateful I am for my great friends. My sis and I get to talk every day, and we have the best conversations, I love to go visit her and all of my family and I love it when they come to stay with us in Salt Lake. My husband really picks on my sisters, especially Nikki, just always teasing her, it is pretty funny, he can really dish it out, he just likes giving people a hard time!

I was able to go to lunch with Shalisa last week, we've known each other since we were about four years old, our birthdays are four days apart, and it was so great to see her and her little girl. Her daughter was so great, she let us visit for almost two hours with out fussing a bit. It was great to catch up and spend some time together!

I also get to go to lunch with some friends tomorrow, and I am so excited to visit and see them! I love to meet new people and make new friends. It is always so awesome to be there for someone, relate to someone, and have someone there for you!

One more thing, I know I posted this for the girls, but I must quickly say that my husband is my ultimate best friend, he treats me like a princess and I love him so very very much. Last night he took me to dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, then to do sealings at the SL Temple, to get ice cream (which I'm technically not eating, but I did have a kid cone, first ice cream since May of 07), and then to Wild Oats to get some healthy snacks for work. He is a great supporter in so many ways, I am so blessed to have such great friends in my life!

EASTER WEEKEND

We had a great Easter weekend! Friday, I was able to get off work a little early and drive out to Vernal. I told my mom over the phone that I had just left SLC, but I was really at the view area, so when I pulled up to her work, she was pleasantly surprised, she had to take a double take, it was awesome! Tyson's sister, Tralina, and her four little kids came out to Vernal too, and we had pizza Friday night with them up at my mom and dad's house.

Saturday, we had a big breakfast all together again, and then went up to Chocolate Rock and rolled our Easter eggs down the hill. It is a Hacking Family tradition, dating back to the pioneers. The kids had such a great time, and the weather was pretty nice. After rolling Easter eggs, we went over to Randy and Louann Merrell's house to see their Tibetan Yaks... What a site! They are starting to get a little herd of these huge animals. They are strong and really agile, I've never seen this size of animals literally run and jump. My nieces and nephews loved this little stop before the Easter egg hunt.

We then went to Tyson's parent's house to have an Easter egg hunt for the kids. Tralina, my brother in law Chris (Nikki's husband), Tyson and I got to hide eggs and treats all over the back yard, and then the kids came running out to find all of the goodies. It is so fun to see little kids get so excited, it was a really fun day! Tralina's family went back to SLC, and Tyson and I stayed and had a really nice "Pre Easter" family dinner at my mom and dad's house. Tyson made the best pork roast, everything was so yummy!!!

Tyson and I left Vernal for SLC at about 9:00 AM Sunday morning, our church starts at 12:30, and Tyson was teaching a lesson, so we had about 20 minutes to get ready for church... Sacrament was really good, the speakers did a great job, speaking on Christmas or Easter would be so hard for me, I would just sit and cry the whole time...

Tyson and I are starting our own traditions, so after church, we came home from church and made crepes with strawberries. We are going to try and do this on Easters to come. We also think we will do the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Hunts on Saturday, so that Easter Sunday can be a time for remembering our Savior, the Atonement, and the Resurrection.

We just snacked the rest of the day and enjoyed the weather and each other's company. I love spending time with my family, my sister's little boy is almost 9 months old and I just can't get enough of the little guy. I'm also so, so , so excited for this weather to change, I'm tempted to wear carpi's one day this week... we'll see. It was a really nice weekend, I'm so grateful for time to spend with my sweetie and family.

P.S. We leave for Taiwan and China in one month from today!!!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I'm kind of bored at work right now, and I have a couple things going through my head:

I am promising myself that I will not eat hot dogs again. I eat a hot dog probably about once a year, but today for some reason, I thought I would eat one for lunch with macaroni and cheese, which I also eat maybe once a year. I usually don't even buy mac n' cheese, but I went grocery shopping during the first half of my lunch, and I bought a pack because it sounded good. Note to self, no more hot dogs, and don't go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

I started a new step class today! The instructor is totally toned and is an awesome teacher! She just moved into my ward. You might remember hearing about the bishop that got in a wreck Feb of 07, and his wife and two children were killed, well that was my bishop (Bishop Chris Williams), and that happened three blocks from our house. Anyway, the lady teaching this new step class just got married to Bishop Williams right before Christmas. She is a great instructor and I'm so excited to work out with her.

Our bishopric came to our house last night... I knew I was getting a calling, they released me from primary in January. I've been in primary since I moved back to Vernal after going to college for two and a half years in SLC, so 4 years total. I was a little sad to be released, but also secretly excited, Relief Society was my favorite in my singles ward. Anyway, I got called to be the Laurel's Advisor! I'm really excited and a little nervious about this, its something new, something I've never done before. I know it will be a challenge, and keep me super busy, but I'm really excited!

One last thought, I love my little nephew so much. I watched him this weekend while the rest of my fam went and saw 10,000 BC, and he is so cute and sweet, and i just love him so much. Can't wait to have my own little bundle of love. What a sweetheart!

THE SUNNY SIDE

Just wanted to post about the many great things I have in life.... I am so blessed!

• First, my husband rocks! He is so good to me, patient, kind to everyone (which is a good example of what I need to be better at), he spoils me, and when I look in his eyes, I can see the adventures we are going to have together in this life. The other day he took me shopping to get under armor workout clothes (which I highly recommend, kind of pricey, but so comfy), then he took me to the mall, one of his least favorite places and bought me perfume and a new spring jacket. I totally stress about cash flow, and yesterday he said, "Honey, its okay to spend a little money once in a while." He is really great about helping me DE-STRESS. Once, I had a great idea to paint our bathroom bright yellow, a very cheery yellow, and once the paint was up on the walls, I just started to cry, it was circus yellow, not cheery and bright. He put up fans, let it dry for a bit, then repainted it all by himself. Since that day, my special nickname is "Sunny." I'm so grateful for this wonderful man in my life.

• I'm grateful for my family. I love each one of my family members so much! My sis, her hubby, their baby, and my mom came out this last weekend, and we had a great time together! My sis is my best friend, we can totally relate to things, and its awesome to be so close to her and her family. I love my mom so much, she is so busy right now with real estate (Vernal's market is crazy busy) and when she comes out here, she gets to relax a bit, eat at some decent restaurants, shop, oh and spoil me rotten. Thanks mom for the great food and clothes!

• I'm grateful for the gospel in my life... that really encompasses my whole world. A lady in sacrament yesterday said that we can take our problems to the Lord, and He can help us, and I guess I have heard that, and really have always known that, but I need a good reminder that I need help, that I can't do it all by myself, I'm not supposed to... so I'm grateful for our Savior, for prayer, for answers to my prayers, and for the Lord's kind and loving hand in my life (which I am trying to recognize and be more grateful for each day).

• Lastly, I know this time change thing is hard, getting up an hour earlier and going to bed when you're not tired will take some time to get used to, but it is lighter so much longer, and one of our favorite things to do is sit on our back porch, drink lemonade (Simply Lemonade is so yummy), and watch the sunset together. I like to sit out there and write in my journal or read a new book, so I am so excited for the warm, sunny, and longer days to come!

ENGAGEMENT ANNIVERSARY

Friday, February 29th was our anniversary date of becoming engaged. Although it was four years ago, this was the first anniversary as it it leap day. I woke up to go to my aerobics class, and there was this beautiful bouquet of flowers in front of the door. I immediately thought someone broke into our house... I know that doesn't make sense, but then I remembered our special day, and there was the sweetest card from Tyson. He was really sneaky with this, and it totally surprised me! I got him an hour and a half massage gift certificate, he loves to go get massages.

That night, we drove out to Vernal, and went with some friends and my sister's family out to Blue Mountain to have a campfire. We couldn't quite get to the cliffs where Tyson proposed because the snow was so deep! We did get pretty close, and ended up having the fire right on the dirt road where there wasn't any snow. We roasted hot dogs and had smores, it was so fun! My sister, Nikki, brought her sweet little boy, he love to watch the fire, he couldn't take his eyes off it, I think the flames even lulled him to sleep. It was so good to be outside, breath fresh air, smell like a campfire, and enjoy friends and family.

We had a fun weekend in Vernal, got to see and visit people we haven't seen in a long time, plus got to hang out with my family, which I love! Its even start to warm up and the snow is starting to melt out there. When we got home yesterday, the flowers had opened up even more, they are just getting prettier! I am so grateful for my sweetheart, he is a great husband, and my true love.